Man injured in fall in turbine tower

Man injured in fall in turbine tower

A 29-year-old worker fell 50 feet inside a wind turbine on Wednesday, breaking a leg and some ribs. He came to a stop about 30 feet from the floor of the turbine, though it's not clear what broke his fall. Fire officials said he was conscious and alert. He was flown to a hospital. The reason for his fall was not immediately available.

Video and editing by Sarah Kleiner Varble

A 29-year-old man fell about 50 feet inside the shaft of a wind turbine this morning, breaking ribs and a leg, officials said.

The accident happened off U.S. 277 about two miles south of Coronado's Camp.

Abilene fire fighters and EMS were called out to assist the Elm Creek Community Association volunteer fire department, said Lt. Greg Goettsch, spokesman for the Abilene Fire Department.

The man, who has not yet been publicly identified, was flown to a hospital via helicopter. Goettsch said he would go to Dallas or Lubbock, though it was not immediately clear to which hospital he went.

He said he did not know why the man fell inside the turbine.

Goettsch said the man was conscious, which preliminarily indicates that he did not sustain life-threatening head injuries.